Confessions of a Non-Soccer Mom

Back in the spring, I came up with this great idea, sign AW up for fall Soccer. Since AW is an only child, I want to make sure that he gets a lot of chances to be around other children. Soccer is suppose to be one of the better activities that you can sign kids up for because they are going to get a lot of exercise. AW is not going to challenge for an athletic scholarship, based on his parents athletic abilities, but the main goal is for him to have fun.

After attending a unified soccer practice with all the kids in the under 5 group, everyone is assigned a letter score, then placed evenly onto teams. At first, I was concerned about AW's team practicing only once a week when some of the other teams practiced twice, until my background in Physical Education kicked in to remind me that's the last thing you need to be doing with four year old's. After watching the coaches herding the kids, which is about like herding cats, you realize his coaches must have the patience of Job to work with eight, four year old's.

What I was not use to were the in-game meltdowns by any given player and the soccer mom's. Yes, I realize I'm a soccer mom by default, but I feel more like a non-soccer mom. Being gripped at because you brought snacks when you were suppose to, but another mom won't let you hand them out sours your attitude quick. I was about at the point of wondering if it was really worth it, but AW was having fun.

Last Saturday, things started to change. I had considered not have AW to play so we could go to the GA/Razorback football game, since it was a few hours from the house. As much as I wanted to go, I knew it wasn't fair to keep AW from his game. While at the game, I noticed the in-game meltdowns from the kids were not irritating me as they did in the past and the soccer mom that wouldn't let anybody bring snacks, finally let someone else hand theirs out. The main reason I was glad that we passed up on the game was that AW scored his first goal (that wasn't for the other team). Moments like that will keep this non-soccer mom coming back until AW wants to move to some other sport.